Macedonia's Levica Party warns of ongoing chaos in maternity benefit payments

At a press conference, Evgenija Stankoska, a member of Levica's central committee, said that despite numerous public reactions and promises, the chaos over the payment of maternity benefits continues. She reported that many mothers have received no payment, some only partial amounts, and others have no information on when their payments will be made.

Stankoska emphasized that the maternity allowance is a legal right, not a welfare handout, and highlighted the hardship of women with pathological pregnancies who face serious health complications and extra expenses while lacking income. The party criticized the new director of the Health Insurance Fund, Zlatko Perinski, for failing to resolve the issue and held Health Minister Sasho Klekovski, the former director of the fund, responsible.

Levica demanded an immediate full payout of all outstanding maternity benefits, a public explanation for partial payments, the establishment of clear and fixed deadlines, and that the Health Insurance Fund cease shifting responsibility and solve the problem.